Joe Louis Craig, 75, of 155 South Grove St. died Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
Joe was born September 18, 1935 in Knoxville, Tenn as the only child of the late Margaret and J.C. Clayton. Joe moved to Asheville at an early age and attended Livingston St. and Asheland Ave. schools. He attended Stephens-Lee High School where he was the starting center for the football team for four years. Joe accepted a full football scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte. "The experience playing center at Stephens-Lee served him in good stead", quoted J C Smith coach Stonewall Jackson, who played professionally with the New York Giants. Highlights of Joe's football career included being selected CIAA All-Conference for the 1956-57 season and recognition by the Charlotte Observer in a feature article as being an "Ironman," having played 60 minutes without an injury in all football games, his sophomore through senior years.
Joe graduated with a degree in Physical Education and returned to Asheville and began working at the Juvenile Evaluation Center as physical education director. He retired after 34 years of service. Joe was a member of Brown Temple CME Church, the Voices of Zion and Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Lille Newby, mother-in-law, Nancy Boston, son, Gregory Craig and daughter, Audrey Craig Watkins.
Surviving family include his wife of 51 years, Brenda Boston Craig; sons, Joe Louis Craig, Jr. (Jean) of Kansas City, Mo., Jonathan Craig (Sheron) and Jeffrey Craig (Elizabeth), of Asheville.
Joe was born September 18, 1935 in Knoxville, Tenn as the only child of the late Margaret and J.C. Clayton. Joe moved to Asheville at an early age and attended Livingston St. and Asheland Ave. schools. He attended Stephens-Lee High School where he was the starting center for the football team for four years. Joe accepted a full football scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte. "The experience playing center at Stephens-Lee served him in good stead", quoted J C Smith coach Stonewall Jackson, who played professionally with the New York Giants. Highlights of Joe's football career included being selected CIAA All-Conference for the 1956-57 season and recognition by the Charlotte Observer in a feature article as being an "Ironman," having played 60 minutes without an injury in all football games, his sophomore through senior years.
Joe graduated with a degree in Physical Education and returned to Asheville and began working at the Juvenile Evaluation Center as physical education director. He retired after 34 years of service. Joe was a member of Brown Temple CME Church, the Voices of Zion and Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Lille Newby, mother-in-law, Nancy Boston, son, Gregory Craig and daughter, Audrey Craig Watkins.
Surviving family include his wife of 51 years, Brenda Boston Craig; sons, Joe Louis Craig, Jr. (Jean) of Kansas City, Mo., Jonathan Craig (Sheron) and Jeffrey Craig (Elizabeth), of Asheville.
Joe Louis Craig, 75, of 155 South Grove St. died Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
Joe was born September 18, 1935 in Knoxville, Tenn as the only child of the late Margaret and J.C. Clayton. Joe moved to Asheville at an early age and attended Livingston St. and Asheland Ave. schools. He attended Stephens-Lee High School where he was the starting center for the football team for four years. Joe accepted a full football scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte. "The experience playing center at Stephens-Lee served him in good stead", quoted J C Smith coach Stonewall Jackson, who played professionally with the New York Giants. Highlights of Joe's football career included being selected CIAA All-Conference for the 1956-57 season and recognition by the Charlotte Observer in a feature article as being an "Ironman," having played 60 minutes without an injury in all football games, his sophomore through senior years.
Joe graduated with a degree in Physical Education and returned to Asheville and began working at the Juvenile Evaluation Center as physical education director. He retired after 34 years of service. Joe was a member of Brown Temple CME Church, the Voices of Zion and Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Lille Newby, mother-in-law, Nancy Boston, son, Gregory Craig and daughter, Audrey Craig Watkins.
Surviving family include his wife of 51 years, Brenda Boston Craig; sons, Joe Louis Craig, Jr. (Jean) of Kansas City, Mo., Jonathan Craig (Sheron) and Jeffrey Craig (Elizabeth), of Asheville.
Joe was born September 18, 1935 in Knoxville, Tenn as the only child of the late Margaret and J.C. Clayton. Joe moved to Asheville at an early age and attended Livingston St. and Asheland Ave. schools. He attended Stephens-Lee High School where he was the starting center for the football team for four years. Joe accepted a full football scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte. "The experience playing center at Stephens-Lee served him in good stead", quoted J C Smith coach Stonewall Jackson, who played professionally with the New York Giants. Highlights of Joe's football career included being selected CIAA All-Conference for the 1956-57 season and recognition by the Charlotte Observer in a feature article as being an "Ironman," having played 60 minutes without an injury in all football games, his sophomore through senior years.
Joe graduated with a degree in Physical Education and returned to Asheville and began working at the Juvenile Evaluation Center as physical education director. He retired after 34 years of service. Joe was a member of Brown Temple CME Church, the Voices of Zion and Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Lille Newby, mother-in-law, Nancy Boston, son, Gregory Craig and daughter, Audrey Craig Watkins.
Surviving family include his wife of 51 years, Brenda Boston Craig; sons, Joe Louis Craig, Jr. (Jean) of Kansas City, Mo., Jonathan Craig (Sheron) and Jeffrey Craig (Elizabeth), of Asheville.
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